Arson Attacks Probed

Police in Co Down are investigating separate fires that broke out over the past weekend.

One was at a solicitors' office in Warrenpoint in the early hours of Friday, which police are treating as arson.

The blaze was discovered in Duke Street in the town at about 3am and detectives have appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to contact them.

The second fire has hit a farm machinery business especially hard with almost 40 tractors and other agricultural vehicles worth around £500,000 destroyed.

The police are also treating the farm incident as a suspected arson attack.

Eric Johnston, who runs EJ Tractors in Comber has told the Belfast News Letter that he has no idea why he was targeted and that he doesn't know yet if he will be able to get his business up and running again.

The businessman was speaking after firefighters battled throughout Friday night to contain the blaze and stop it spreading to other buildings.

The Fire and Rescue Service said it faced "an inferno of burning buildings and machinery" and had to deploy five pumping appliances, four specialist appliances and 45 firefighters at the scene.

Mr Johnston said he believed the fire was deliberately lit.

The farm equipment dealer said he didn't know if he would continue in business.

"I just haven't a clue. I'll have to phone the insurance company and see what will happen.

"It's the first time in 45 or 50 years of business that anything like this has happened, so I just don't know," he said.

(BMcC)